Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 18, 2026

Generation of Subcutaneous and Intrahepatic Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Xenografts in Immunodeficient Mice
10:35

Generation of Subcutaneous and Intrahepatic Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Xenografts in Immunodeficient Mice

Published on: September 25, 2013

37.4K

Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma in a developing country: Is the etiology changing?

Kumar Palaniappan1, Vibhor V Borkar1, Mohamed Safwan1

  • 1Institute of Liver Disease and Transplantation, Global Health City, Chennai, India.

Pediatric Transplantation
|July 10, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is shifting towards younger children with congenital liver diseases, necessitating liver transplantation. This trend is linked to successful Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) immunization.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Hepatology
  • Transplantation Surgery

Background:

  • Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a significant pediatric liver malignancy.
  • Traditionally, HCC in children is associated with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, presenting in older children.
  • Younger children (<5 years) with HCC typically have underlying congenital or metabolic liver diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the changing demographic and clinical characteristics of pediatric HCC.
  • To evaluate the role of liver transplantation in managing pediatric HCC.
  • To identify trends in pediatric HCC associated with congenital/metabolic diseases versus HBV.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of pediatric HCC cases over a six-year period.
  • Analysis of patient demographics, underlying liver conditions, and treatment modalities.
  • Comparison of HCC characteristics based on discovery (preoperative vs. incidental on explant).

Main Results:

  • Twelve pediatric HCC patients were identified, with a median age of 5.9 years.
  • Eleven patients had congenital or metabolic liver diseases; none had HBV.
  • Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) was incidentally discovered in 66.7% of explants, showing less aggressive features. All patients underwent liver transplantation with no recurrence observed.

Conclusions:

  • The demographic of pediatric HCC is evolving, with an increasing proportion of younger patients having congenital/metabolic liver diseases.
  • Liver transplantation is the primary treatment for this cohort.
  • Successful HBV immunization programs are likely contributing to this shift in pediatric HCC epidemiology.

Keywords:
hepatitis Bincidental hepatocellular carcinomaliver transplantationmetabolic liver diseasepediatric hepatocellular carcinoma

More Related Videos

A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma12:24

A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Published on: September 30, 2021

6.3K
Author Spotlight: Investigating Liver Cancer Pathogenesis Using Patient-Derived Organoids07:25

Author Spotlight: Investigating Liver Cancer Pathogenesis Using Patient-Derived Organoids

Published on: August 18, 2023

2.8K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
313
Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
8.6K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
423
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
645
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
360
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test01:22

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test

In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess...
248